Packing for rotary shafts.



F. KNOUREVK.

Patented Feb. 1, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I F.KNOUREK.

FACKZNG'FOR ROTARY SHAFTS. APPLICATION FILED APR- 22| 1914.

Patented Feb. 1,1916.

2 SHEETSQISHEET 2.

[N VEN TOR Allarney FRANZ Kfi'OUREK; OF BOI-IEMIA; AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

racki ve For. ROTARY SHAFTS.

Application filed April 22, 1914. Serial No. 833,779.

Be it known that invented certain new and useful Improvements in Packing for Rotary- Shafts, of

which the following is a' specification.

This invention relates toimprovements in packingfor rotary shafts at the points where they pass out of an inc'losed space or casing in which there is inclosed a fluid at a pressure above or below that of the atmosphere.

The invention is more particularly directed to packing of the type known as labyrinth packing which is used for the purpose set forth. Labyrinth packings as hitherto known entail a considerable axial length of packing or bearing which involves, in the case of rapidly rotating shafts and spindles, considerable loss through friction.

According to the present invention the objections hitherto associated with labyrinth packing are avoided by providing centrifugal blades on the annular stages or projections of thelabyrinth packing on the side remote from thatof the pressure to be overcome. 2

In the case 'of shafts which are to be re versed the stages of the-labyrinth packing may be provided with two sets of blades or blade grooves oppositely arranged. The lubricating medium may be arranged to flow; from one cases where the shaft is reversible automatic means may be provided for permltting the circulation of the lubricating" medium inone or the other direction.

The invention'is illustrated by of -example in the accompanying drawings in which 4 J 1 Figure 1 is'an axialseetion through the bearing and Fig. 2'is a cross section of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 shows a section of the bearing with lubricating arrangement. Fig. 41 is a view of abearing and packing according to the present invention arranged for overcoming pressure in one direction only.- Fig. 5 is a partial view of a bearing showing the arrangement of the parts in cases where the shaft is subjected to longitudinal movements. I

In carrying the invention into effect according to the 'form shown, passes through the sleeve 2 whichis pro- Specification of Letters Patent.

end to the.0ther and its flow may be induced by the-centrifugal blades. In'

the shaft 1 V Patented Feb; 1, i916.

vided internally With a number of annular grooves. The shaft 1 has fixed thereon a number of collars or rings 7, 9- and these rings are provided on the side whichfaces '60 the fluid under pressure with grooves 10, 11, while their rear sides 12 are flat and not grooved. .The rings 7, 9 are adapted to rov I tate in the grooves of the sleeve 2 and suf-- ficient clearance is left between the rings 65 series'of grooves in the first ring 7 The liquid is forced outwardly in a combined radial and axial direction and the outer part of the grooved rings 7 is rounded so that the liquid passes gradually from the radial to the axial direction of flow and then .returns again through. a curved passageto a radial direction so asv to enter the 'next stage. The liquid passes from one stage to the next under gradually increasing pressure until it reaches the last stage where at its outermost point his collected in anannular chamber 15 (see Figs. 1 and 3) or in a collecting chamber" 81 (see Fig. 4) from 1 which the-liquid is removed to a filter or other apparatus when. if desired it may be 85 used again. The oil in the annulus 15 may be prevented from passing axially of the shaft 7 by providing the last grooves 10. In this way the oil which would have the tendency to flow axially is returned by the blades 11 into the annulus 15 and from thisannulus practically all the oil may be withdrawn through the passage 18. I

In some cases the shaft .of the motor or blades; In cases where the chamber R in Fig. 3 is sometimes subjected to pressure 105 and sometimes to vacuum it is advisable to I provide two sets of blades or grooves on" the labyrinth rings. Such oppositely .arranged rings are shown at 18 in Fig. 3 where the'curved rings 8 are oppositely arranged to the curved and grooved sides of the rings 7,

ring 9 with blades or grooves 10, 11 on both sides, the grooves being arranged oppositely to the In most cases it is sufiicient for and grooved sides .of' the 7 tion of the rod 25 and the position of this I V sures in the pipes 26 and 27 are determined The lubricant enters by the pipe 27 into the annulus 16' and is forced under pressure by the grooves on the ring 9 into the annulus 15 from whence it finds its outlet at 18. llhe lubricating arrangements in this form may be under the control of a regulator as shown. This regulator consists of a cylindricalchamber 19 .to the center part of which at 20 the lubricant is fed. The lubricant may pass from the center portion by the valves 28 or 2& which rest on seats 21 and 22 respectively. The valve by which the liquid passes is determined by the posirod is determined in turn by the pressures in the pipes 26, 27 respectively. The pres by the pressures in the annuli 14: and 16 and consequently the direction of flow of the oil is determined by. the pressure in the chamber R. When the pressure in the chamber R is higher than atmospheric the liquid passes from the tube "20 past the .valve 23 through the tube 26 into the annulus 14: and

thence through the various grooved rings 7 to the outlet 18. At the same time as the valve 23 opens, thevvalve 24 is closed. The number'of stages 7 is preferably greater than the number of stages 8 so that any oil having internal annular grooves therein,

said grooves having a rounded and a flat surface, a rotaryshaft passing through said sleeve, collars on said shaft and rotating with freeclearance in said annular grooves, means for supplying a circulating fluid to j the end of said sleeve adjacent the rounded supply of circulating fluid.

portion .of v the groove, and centrifugal blades on the side of said collars facing the 2. A labyrinth packing comprising a sleeve having internal annular grooves therein, said grooves having a rounded and a flat surface, a rotary shaft passing through said sleeve, collars on said shaft and rotating with free clearance in said annular grooves,

' means for supplying a circulating fluid to one end of said. sleeve and centrifugal blades on the side of said collars facing the supply of circulating fluid, said blades being inclined relatively to' both the radius and axis of said shaft and having rounded edges adjacent the rounded edges of the grooves.

3. A labyrinth packing comprising a sleeve farmers having internal annular grooves therein, said grooves having a rounded portion, a rotary shaft vpassing through said sleeve,

collars on said shaft and rotatingwith free therein, said gooves having a rounded and a flat portion, a rotary shaft passing through said sleeve, collarson' said shaft androtating with free clearance in said annular grooves, means for supplying a circulating fluid to one end of said sleeve, adj acent-the rounded portion of the grooves, and centrifugal blades on the side of said collarsfacing the supply of circulating fluid, and adjacent the rounded portion of the grooves, a receiving chamber for the circulating fluid, and a collar on the shaft opposite said receiving chamber, said collar having blade-members on both sides thereof.

'5. A labyrinth packing comprising a sleeve having internal annular grooves there-in, a rotary shaft passing through said sleeve, collars on said shaft and rotating with free clearance in said annular grooves,- means for supplying a circulating fluid to the ends of said sleeve and centrifugal blades on the side ofsaid collars facing the; supply of circulating fluid, a central receiving chamber for the circulating fluid and located atthe junction of the series of collars with oppositely arranged blade members thereon, and automatic means for directing the supply of circulating fluid to either-end of said sleeve, according to the increase and decrease in pressure therewithin.

6. A' labyrinth packing comprising a sleeve having a; plurality of internal annulargrooves therein, saidgrooves having two intersecting surfaces, one of the said sur-- faces at right angles to the shaft and the other surface arcuate to thefirst-mentioned "surface, a receiving chamber adjacent the innermost groove, the said sleeve having another plurality of -annular grooves therein having two intersecting surfaces, one of the said surfaces at right angles to the shaft and the other said surface arcuate thereto, the said arcuate surface following the circle on the opposite side of the right angular groove from the first-mentioned arcuate surface, a rotary shaft passing through said sleeve,

collars on said 'shaftand rotating with free clearance in said annular grooves, means for supplying a circulating fluid to the re-' ceiving chambers.

, 7. A labyrinth packing comprising a sleeve having internal annular grooves therein, a rotary shaft passing through said sleeve, collars on said shaft and rotating with free clearance in said annular grooves, and automaticmeans for directing the sup ply of circulating fluid to either end of said sleeve, said means comprising a receiving chamber, two auxiliary chambers in communication therewlth, and

a valve in each chamber, said valves operated according to the increase ordecrease in pressure in the ends of said sleeves.

8. A labyrinth packing comprising a 'sleeve having internal annular grooves therein, a rotary shaft passing throughsaid sleeve, collars on said shaft and rotating with free clearance in said annular grooves, and automatic means for directing the supply of a circulating fluid to either end of said sleeve,,said means comprising a receiving chamber for the circulating fluid, two

auxiliary chambers arranged upon opposite sides of the receiving chamber and having communication therewith, passages connecting each auxiliary chamber to opposite ends of the sleeve, a valve in each chamber adapted to close communication between it whereby the opening of the said valves nip chamber, the said valves auxiliary chamberscollars on said shaft 1 fluid from the reservoir to the end of the said sleeve adjacent the rounded portion of the groove, pipes conveying the fluid from the other end of the sleeve Where it is under pressure back to the reservoir, the pipes apart from the sleeve and providing means for cooling the fluid after its passage through the sleeve. 7 In testimony whereof I have signed'my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. y

- DR. FRANZ KNOUREK.

Witnesses:

LADISLAV VoJAiEL, VoJTficH KAPELLA, 

